Too much pressure

[GoldenGauntlet 45]

I'm not convinced putting 2 point riders in a SGBC team does anybody any good, least of all the riders, for whom it's too big a step up.

[foamfence 2,917]

12 hours ago, GoldenGauntlet said:

I'm not convinced putting 2 point riders in a SGBC team does anybody any good, least of all the riders, for whom it's too big a step up.

So how are riders supposed to progress? There are others who are doing OK.

[Sings4Speedway 3,246]

Putting them in is fine but the cap needs to be at the top end. having riders on 10 point averages and 2 point averages on the line together is never going to produce an entertaining product. It might also be sensible to cap it to one 2.00 rider per team so there is more completion for spaces and there fore push the standard up rather than the current situation where there are many sub standard riders competing in the championship.

[GoldenGauntlet 45]

3 hours ago, foamfence said:

So how are riders supposed to progress? There are others who are doing OK.

Maybe become top NL riders rather than 7-point NL riders before they step up to the Championship?

[Sings4Speedway 3,246]

5 minutes ago, GoldenGauntlet said:

Maybe become top NL riders rather than 7-point NL riders before they step up to the Championship?

Can you blame the riders though? The temptation to ride for Championship sides with sign on fee's, the prestige of the next level in some cases kevlars, bikes supplied etc along with the possibility of racing full time and no work is pretty tempting. There have been 2nd halfers up and down the country who have raced in the Champs and higher simply because teams needed a rider quick. Do you think they did it because they believed they were that standard all of a sudden or were they hoping to pick up the odd gifted point and have a nice photo in the race jacket for the mantle.

[GoldenGauntlet 45]

1 minute ago, Sings4Speedway said:

Can you blame the riders though? The temptation to ride for Championship sides with sign on fee's, the prestige of the next level in some cases kevlars, bikes supplied etc along with the possibility of racing full time and no work is pretty tempting. There have been 2nd halfers up and down the country who have raced in the Champs and higher simply because teams needed a rider quick. Do you think they did it because they believed they were that standard all of a sudden or were they hoping to pick up the odd gifted point and have a nice photo in the race jacket for the mantle.

I don't blame the riders at all. I'm sure they all have ambitions of making the Premiership, let alone the Championship, so they're going to take the opportunity when offered, but I doubt that any of these riders are making enough money from speedway to give up their day jobs. If they have NL rides as well then they at least have regular racing at a level where they can score good points and build up their confidence.

[foamfence 2,917]

1 hour ago, GoldenGauntlet said:

Maybe become top NL riders rather than 7-point NL riders before they step up to the Championship?

That doesn't necessarily follow, before doubling up and silly names for different divisions, the top clubs would try out a second division rider when someone was missing, often they discovered that middle order men made better additions than second division bigwigs. They can all ride but they don't all have the strength of mind and focus, all you can do is try them and see. I don't wish to name names as it wouldn't be fair but there are some pretty successful NL riders who would never cut it above.